The Press., 1887-06-02
A MANLGEK,s pILEmMA.

or recent diBakreeable experiences rec ollect one night at Her Majesty's in 1882. had produced 'rTannhauser,S and for the third performance of it Mir. Gladstone, who was at that time in power, had noti- fled his intention to be present. The in- telligence had got about, and the opera being great success, with Mir. Gladstone's presence adding to the attraction, we ex- pected great house. I left the theater about o'clock and was just sitting down to dinner when Q messenger arrived at my residence, saying that Schott, the repre- sentative of the title role, had suddenly collapsed and could not sing. No grey hound ever jumped quicker than I from my repast. Putting cigar in my mouth instead of food, I drove down to the thea tre, where my managerial eye met what at one time would have been a glorious sight. The colonade before the theatre was packed with people, ready for the dou- ble event, sTannhauser' and Gladstone" But, alas they were going to be disap- pointed in both respects. In the afternoon had received a communication informing me that MT. Gladstone could not be pres ent, having been summoned to Windsor. When arrived at the stage door great consternation prevailed. had on my way down telegraphed to most of my ar-
  had determined to change to Mariana" knew that as Burns and Ludwig were in the "Tannhauser" cast had my "Mari- tana" and t'Don Jose" but quite unex- pected difficulty presented itself. When l looked for the master carpenter and his principal assistant found them in a per feet state of intoxication, lying on the floor in the cellar, and no gentle persuasion nor stern treatment would persuade them to change the scenery By this time it was the hour for opening. Written bills were posted on the pay box thnt -Mritana" would be substituted, for "Maritana" l must give, though at that moment Heaven only knew where my "Don Cesare" and 'Iazarillo" were to come from
 The first man appearing was Davies, the tenor. 'You must sing Don Cesare Y" "I don'tknowit." "Can younot get through the first act ?" "I might" l" "Try, and go down and dress" Miss York was the sec ond to arrive, and had my 'Lazarilio." My friend Randegger, although he had never conducted the opera, consented to do so until my sub-conductor had returned from home in evening daess, and up went the curtain. But what about the scenery We'll, we pulled the ''Venus scene" off and played the first act in Thuringia with the Wartburg in sight, instead of in Spanish market place the second act in a chamber close at hand, instead of a prison, and the third act in the grand hall at the Wart- burd, instead of Spanish interior. But my troubles were not over. l soon dis covered that, in spite of the best intentions, Davies would not get through the opera, and my eye watched at the stage door as Wellington spied for Butcher at the battle of Waterloo. We'll, Butcher came in the | abay,a ,f ar v.to liuad n aord daianca of, and had induced an express train to stop and let him out Rt one of the stations running into town. He dressed and re- leased Davies in the middle of the first act, to the great astonishment of the audience, and Pew did the same for Randeeeer. I did not shut the theatre, but it was as mar row an escape of doing so as any manager ever had. Curl RosSa ta MUrrdy's Mug dzjne.